Abstract
In the summer of 1989 a screening campaign for skin cancer was organized in four seaside resorts of The Netherlands using a mobile examination room. On 4 consecutive Saturdays 3069 individuals were examined. A total of 65 individuals with a suspected lesion were found. Histological reports were obtained on 46 suspected lesions and showed: 6 melanomas (all with a thickness less than 1 mm), 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 23 basal cell carcinomas, 5 dysplastic naevi and 10 benign skin lesions. The positive predictive value of the clinical examination appeared to be 83%. Much publicity was given to the campaign by the (inter)national media. The effects of this publicity were measured by a questionnaire sent to the general practitioners (856) and dermatologists (25) in the region, of whom 44% and 84%, respectively, responded. It appeared that during and after the campaign there had been an increase in the number of consultations for skin lesions, and an increase in the diagnoses of malignant lesions.
Translated title of the contribution | The 'freckle bus' campaign; an unhealthy phenomenon or a sensible experiment? |
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Original language | Dutch |
Pages (from-to) | 2047-50 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
Volume | 134 |
Issue number | 42 |
Publication status | Published - 20 Oct 1990 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
- Child
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mass Screening
- Melanoma
- Melanosis
- Middle Aged
- Netherlands
- Program Evaluation
- Skin Neoplasms
- English Abstract
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't